Home » Sport » Kok wants to continue after a special victory at 500 meters: ‘Hope now for a 36’er’ | NOW

Kok wants to continue after a special victory at 500 meters: ‘Hope now for a 36’er’ | NOW

Femke Kok is very happy with the special victory she booked on the 500 meters in Heerenveen on Saturday and hopes that her victory is the start of more. The twenty-year-old skating talent is the first Dutch with a World Cup victory at the shortest distance since Annette Gerritsen in March 2011.

Kok came on the fast ice of Thialf in her second World Cup race ever to 37.08, exactly the same time as she set her personal record at the end of December. She had no idea that she had relieved Gerritsen after almost ten years.

“But it is great that I can take over that baton today”, Kok said to the WE. The Frisian had the feeling that she could go even faster and was actually disappointed that she rode 37.08 again.

“My start was not so good, only then I did such a good lap. It felt very good,” she said. “I am very happy with this time, it is just a pity that it was not just a bit faster.”

Femke Kok on the podium in Thialf as the winner of the 500 meters.

Femke Kok on the podium in Thialf as the winner of the 500 meters.

Femke Kok on the podium in Thialf as the winner of the 500 meters.

Photo: Pro Shots



‘There is even more in my start’

Kok is seen as one of the future toppers in Dutch skating and is working hard to keep her promise. She is mainly concerned with her start and has a clear goal in mind.

“My start, there is even more in it. I try to work on my responsiveness, because that is often slow. I hope that I can ride a 36er here one day and hopefully that is already this season. We will see.”

With her personal top time of 37.08, Kok is only two hundredths above the Dutch record, which has been held by Thijsje Oenema for eight years. The second round of the 500 meters is scheduled for Sunday in Thialf.

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